The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1887-06-01
TIE MAMMA.
EXPLANATORY NOTES BY s. /. CUR
TlSS, Phi. D., D. D..

/ Vh AcNtb ooHtt VI, 80. .u.u
Tho Wilderness of Sinai.-After Israol's
great delivcrnlce thoy were introduced to
life IN tho wilderness Of Sinai. This wildor-
moss is u triangle. It's base is $50 miles in
iongth. Is apex divides tho Red sea into w
arms. The sido OH the western arm, known
as tho Gulf ~ Sucz, extends 100 miles; the
stdoon tho eastern, called tho Gulf Of Akaba,
Is l2o mite in length. Thus tho peninsula of
Sinai cos am MI nren Of II GOO square miles.
AS the nii;Sllln Of Sinai extends like q
wtdgo lt't!c Red sea, SO the desert Of Eft
TIL, VII i, was Tho scene OF tho wanderinps
OF the g. 'i,lt"n OF Israel, whose base Is on tho
Mesiiteri moan, extends like q wedge into this
sa.hn peninsula. Tho desert Of 1T lib, which
Is also known as tho Wilderness of Pnran, il
divided into two nearly equal parts by tho
W9ay cl Arisi, or tho river Of Egypt, tho
western boundary OF Israels promised pos
sessions, which hos several branches, cspe-
ciaQy on the south md east sides. From GAIA
to tho foot Of tho Dend sen is tho baso Of
another triangle which takes up tho north
enst corner Of let Till, and which was known
as the Ncgcb, or South country. Here
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob dwclt.
Tho most fertile pnrt Of this country, which
Is inferior to the region above il, is tho Ncgob;
tho Wilderness Of tho Wandcrings, 1T Til is
comparatively sterile, and tho Sinaitic pcnin-
Bula produces but little vegetation cxcept IN
the wadics, OF stream beds. 1t il believed.
however, ny prominent gcograpliors and cx-
plorers, for seemingly weiglity reasons, That
tho fvnaitic peninsula was once far moro fer
Gle than ut present. Even now moro than
o,0Vo BcdnwM find ut least n partial slbsist-
cnce III 1t, although their provisions are, to
some extent, supplemented from Egypt.
Doubtless tho peninsula has suffered from Il
loss of trees, which wero ut ono time ruth
lossly destroyed to furnish charcoal for ex-
portatioi.
But we may not suppose, under my circum-
stances, That tho Sinnitic peninsula could have
begun TO support 2,000,CN Of people, or oven
u hlildiedth part Of that number, il they hnd
to depend on tho resources Of the country.
Under Rameses II there were mines which
were worked on tho west side Of tho PENN
Sula. 1t may bo that they were discontinued
under Metropolitan.
1t is not possible to determine precisely tho
route which tho Islarlitcs took. After cross
ing tho Red Sea tley went three days with
out wntcr, ind then OIL coming to Marnil
found only that which was bitter. Tho pre-
scncc Of natrun in the soil makes tho watel.
bitter. 1t is commonly believed that Elm is
Wady Ghnrandel. There they found twelve
springs of water and seventy palm trees lex.
Ky, 20. They could not always remain IN
this delightful place. They passed on, there
fore, to tho wilderness Of Sin.
AT the end of six weeks the prospect seemed
most discouraging. Tho congregation Of
Israel wns III the wilderness without food.
No wonder they murmured, and that they
forgot their hnrd bondage and longed for the
ncshpots of Egypt lex. xvi, 81.
THE LESSON.
What was tho Mammal ". 4.-God there
fore undertakes to make provision for his
people, and promises to rain bread from
heaven for them each day. There has been
n SSh discussion as to what IL intended here
by tho mama, Many think that 1t is tho
product of tho tamnrisk tree, such ms is found
today in small quantities. Tho yield is not
moro than 600 or TOO pounds. Unless tho
quantity was miiaculously increased, like tho
five loavcs and two fishes, it could mover have
furnished food enough for tho Israelites. b.
sides, this mamma which comes from tho tam
arisk tree is to 10 had only during two
months.
Tho object Of giving this food to Israel was
not only that God might preserve life, but
also that he might prove them whether they
would walk III his law or not.
V. 6. Evidently the supply was miraculous.
On tho sixth day they were TO make prcpara-
lions for tho seventh, for Oh that day there
was to DO no fall Of mama.
a Daily Reminder Tvs. H-S.-Tho pcople
were to ave a daily reminder of their do
polidencc OIL God. In tho beginning at oven
they welo to know that the Lord had brought
them out of tho land Of Egypt, IN the gift Of
Qunils. Those were to be furnished in such
numbers and abundance that they should rec
ognizo that it was the direct provision Of
Gods hand, md that tho same hand which
had smittcn tho flrstborn OF the Egyptians,
and Ind opened n way through tho sea for
fhnln SCnS pnt, fonf1{,,f~ kho,, T., ~ .1. I'll
ing they were to SEQ q sight which had never
greeted their eyes before. They wero to see
the ground covered with tho pure white
mamma. This mast have been a peculiarly
impressive spectacle TO them, as i'll Egypt
they hnd perhaps never seen snow or boar
frost, which tho mama roscmbled lex.
xvi. lD.
They wero reminded, too, that God heard
their murlnurings, TINT these murmurings
were not directed against Moses, Gods sery-
ant, but against God himself.
Tho Congregation Before Jehovah Tvs.
o.ls. --Hcretoforo tho people had prob.
ably beon more or less scattered. Now Aaron
BIDS them appear rs Il congregation before tho
Lord. While ho is speaking to them they be-
hold a wonderful sight. Looking toward tho
wilderness they SEQ tho glory of the Lord ap.
pear IN tho cloud, while ho utters to Moses
almost tho same words ms those which they
had already heard. and assures them that be.
tween tho two evenings they shall cat flesh
and IN the morning they shall 10 filled with
bread. In this way they were to know that
ho was tho Lord their God.
POINTS TO BE R~EMgMDERED.
!. The path to Canaan lay through tho will
dcrncss for tho Israelitcs. 1t may DO our lot
to pass through tho wilderness before wo
reach tho heavenly Canaan.
- - Il $3.50 10 ---- a -. ~ E